Sichuan University is one of China’s
key universities under the direct supervision of Ministry of Education.
Located in West China, it is identified as a key high-level
comprehensive research university under Project 985 and Project 211. The
CPC Committee Secretary of the University is Professor Yang Quanming,
and the President is Professor Xie Heping.
Sichuan University is located in
downtown Chengdu, a famous historic and cultural city known as “the land
of abundance”. It consists of three campuses of Wangjiang, Huaxi and
Jiangan, and covers an area of 7050 mu (470 hectares) with a floor area
of 308 hectares. The University, with its favorable environment and
beautiful scenery, is a wonderful place for learning and doing research.
Sichuan University is actually the
product of a series of mergers involving 3 national universities: the
former Sichuan University, the former Chengdu University of Science and
Technology, and the former West China University of Medical Sciences. The former Sichuan University began
life as the Sichuan Chinese and Western School, established by Lu
Chuanlin, Governor of Sichuan, on the orders of Emperor Guang Xu. It is
the earliest higher education institute in southwest China. The former
Chengdu University of Science and Technology was one of the earliest
multidisciplinary universities of engineering to be established during
the restructuring of colleges and universities. The former West China
University of Medical Sciences originated from West China Union
University which was established by western Christian groups in Chengdu
in 1910. It was not only one of the first western-style universities,
but also one of the first universities to offer postgraduate programs in
China.
In 1994, the former Sichuan
University and the former Chengdu University of Science and Technology
merged into Sichuan United University, and in 1998, it was renamed as
Sichuan University in. CPC and state leaders including Jiang Zemin and
Li Peng wrote inscriptions and gave their best wishes on the merger of
the two universities. In 2000, Sichuan University and the former West
China University of Medical Sciences merged and formed the new Sichuan
University. “Sichuan University is a pioneer in the institutional reform
of higher education as one of the first universities being reformed and
has made historic contributions to the reforms of higher education in
China.”, Li Lanqing, the former Vice Premier said. During the May 12th
Wenchuan earthquake relief, CPC and state leaders including Wu Bangguo
and Wen Jiabao paid visits to Sichuan University.
Sichuan University enjoys a long
tradition in education and boasts many renowned scholars. Over the past
century, the University has attracted masters such as historian Gu
Jiegang, philosopher Feng Youlan, writer Li Jieren, esthetician Zhu
Guangqian, physicist Wu Dayou, biologist Tong Dizhou, botanist Fang
Wenpei, public health expert C. C. Chen, and mathematician Ke Zhao. In
its history, the University has been administered by Wu Yuzhang and
Zhang Lan. It has also graduated many famous people, including: Zhu De,
one of the founding fathers of the People’s Republic of China; Yang
Shangkun, former Chairman of China; Guo Moruo and Ba Jin, renowned
writers; as well as national heroes Jiang Zhujun and Mao Yingcai. Over
50 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of
Engineering are alumni of Sichuan University, and among the 50 “Sichuan
Cultural Celebrities” in 2001, 36 were alumni of Sichuan University.
